The Heim Center for Cultural and Civic Engagement at the Free Library of Philadelphia hosted a remarkable celebration in honor of Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month. This event marked the kickoff of the Latin American Book Fair (LABF) and the opening of the «Micro/Macro Cosmos» exhibition on Friday, October 13, 2023. It brought together a group of distinguished Latino community leaders who joined hands to commemorate the Fifth Edition of the Latin American Book Fair.
Priscilla Suero, the First Deputy Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia, graced the gathering with a warm welcome and shared her family’s immigrant journey with the audience. Suero’s parents emigrated from the Dominican Republic to provide their children with a better education. As a first-generation child in the United States, Suero sought resources and support at the library, particularly in tutoring and English language development. She also emphasized that the new executive leadership team at the Free Library of Philadelphia is unwavering in their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as these values serve as the cornerstone in the organizational framework of this institution and believe that representation matters in the workplace.
During the ceremony, Ana Omana, the Creative Director of LABF, enlightened on the mission the organizing committee has pursued for the past five years. They aimed to promote reading, Writing, and the encouragement of Spanish language publications in Philadelphia. Omana proudly noted that most authors who participated during this period shared their personal stories, offering their unique perspectives on Latin American culture in the United States. She emphasized that LABF serves as a collective platform, providing a space to share and learn about diverse cultures, traditions, and culinary delights.
Teresa Rauscher, the Director of Education of the Peruvian organization PATHere (Peruvian Americans Together Here), voiced the importance of celebrating Spanish culture and literature. Rauscher underlined that this non-profit organization is dedicated to serving the Peruvian-American community through educational and cultural programs and social advocacy. As part of this literary and cultural celebration, PATHere presented a one-day exhibition entitled «Traditional Regional Peruvian Dresses» at the Heim Center. This collection showcased the rich folk art that reflects the fusion of indigenous and colonial histories, representing regions from the coast (Tondero dress from Piura), mountains (Huayno attire from Cusco), and the jungle (Anaconda dance costume).
Later in the event, the Peruvian author Roger Santiváñez, read his poem «Gardesana» in the Spanish language. This poem earned him the «IV Premio de Poesía Juana Goergen 2023.»
During the pinning ceremony, where authors and the Peruvian artist Salvador Pereira were recognized, the poet Norma Corrales-Martin explained the meaning behind that metaphor. The design of the pin features the «Liberty Bell,» representing freedom and justice, and the architectural design of the «City Hall of Philadelphia» symbolizes the determined support of City Representatives for this unique community-led project.
The «Best Author of the Year 2023» award was conferred upon the Afro-Latinx Dominican-Puerto Rican author, Alyssa Reynoso-Morris. Additionally, the «Amigo» award was presented to Taller Puertorriqueño for their dedicated support, both past and present, from CEO Carmen Febo and current leader Nasheli Ortiz-González.
In her final remarks, Leity Rodríguez-Largo, the Director of Finance at LABF, cheered the event as a «quijotesca (idealistic) idea» at its inception. Over the years, more community partners have rallied behind the LABF’s mission to promote the importance of reading from early childhood while preserving the Latino language and culture. This ongoing collaboration has transformed this unique community-led project into a resounding success, nurturing the Latino culture by amplifying the voices of emerging and seasoned authors.
If you would like to get involved as an author, illustrator, editor, creator, or volunteer in future events during the year, please visit https://www.latinbookfair.com/.
«I want to share some helpful tips for aspiring authors that I actually learned from my grandmother – the most influential person in my life.
First, stay curious and dream big. Every night before bed, my grandmother would ask me, «What did you learn today?» This daily reflection challenged me to stay open and make it my mission to learn something new daily.
Staying curious has enabled me to dream big. I dreamed of becoming an author since I was seven years old. In the first book I wrote with my mom when I was 7, I said, «Writing is like magic… When I write, I have the power to do whatever I want.» I honestly thought only dead white men became authors. I also knew the statistics. I knew that only 1% of submitted manuscripts are published, and of that 1%, only 6% of Latiné authors are published. But my desire to learn new things and challenge myself kept me going. I honed my craft by taking classes, creating a writing community for myself, and applying for mentorship programs. And now I have three books with Big 5 Publishers.
The second lesson is to be grateful. Focusing on what you have and your blessings will not only help you feel content but it will help you attract more blessings into your life. Every night before I go to bed, I reflect on my day and write down at least one thing I am grateful for. This practice allows me to look back on how fortunate I am on those days that I lack motivation or feel overwhelmed. With that said, be grateful for this moment. Make sure you thank your professors, faculty, family and friends that helped and supported you to get to this moment.
Lastly, if you take nothing from what I have said except one thing, let it be this – the world needs you. We are living in challenging times, and the world needs your empathy, leadership, and gifts.»
–Alyssa Reynoso-Morris. Speech acceptance for the award «Best Author of the Year 2023» given by the LABF committee and read by Mary Marques on behalf of the author at the ceremony. Heim Center, Free Library of Philadelphia.
Debo estar lejos
porque no oigo los pájaros.
Me han extraviado la tarde en su vacío,
he recorrido esta ciudad
de voces extranjeras
sólo para advertir cuánto dependo
de sus cantos,
y cómo sus silbos gota a gota
se mezclan en mi sangre”.
Del libro de poemas “Terredad”, Debo Estar Lejos, de Eugenio Montejo.
A few lines of this poem were read by Ana Omana during the kickoff ceremony of the Fifth edition of the LABF, Heim center, Free Library of Philadelphia.
